Iran’s nukesPompeo says U.S. to impose “strongest sanctions in history” against Iran

Published 21 May 2018

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Washington will impose “the strongest sanctions in history [on Iran] once they come into full force” and that the “sting of sanctions will only grow more painful if the regime does not change its course.” Pompeo set twelve conditions for Iran to follow in order for the United States to agree to a new nuclear deal with Tehran in a speech in Washington today (21 May). Iran will have to choose between maintaining its economy or sponsoring terrorist and insurgent groups in countries like Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen — what he called “squandering precious wealth on fights abroad.” “It will not have the money to do both,” he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Washington will impose “the strongest sanctions in history [on Iran] once they come into full force” and that the “sting of sanctions will only grow more painful if the regime does not change its course.”

Pompeo set twelve conditions for Iran to follow in order for the United States to agree to a new nuclear deal with Tehran in a speech in Washington on 21 May at the Heritage Foundation think tank.

His speech comes almost two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington was withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal — known as the JCPOA — between Iran and six world powers.

Pompeo said the deal was a “loser” that had “huge negative repercussions,” adding that Iran had “advanced its march across the Middle East” since the signing of the 2015 deal.

He said the sanctions will apply “unprecedented financial pressure” on Iran, which he called the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism.

“The authorities in Iran will have no doubt” about our determination, he said.

Pompeo said Iran will be “battling to keep its economy alive” under the sanctions and will have to choose between maintaining its economy or sponsoring terrorist and insurgent groups in countries like Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen — what he called “squandering precious wealth on fights abroad.”

“It will not have the money to do both,” he said.

He blamed the money that the Iranian government received after sanctions ended as a “newfound treasure” that it used to sponsor those groups.

“We will track down Iranian operatives and their Hezbollah proxies operating around the world and crush them,” Pompeo said.

Pompeo said if Iran makes “major changes,” the United States would be willing to lift all sanctions.

He did not give a timetable for when the sanctions would be imposed.

Among the demands he made, Pompeo said Iran must “stop the enrichment” of uranium, which was allowed within strict limitations under the nuclear deal.

He said Iran must also allow nuclear monitors to have “unqualified access to all sites throughout the country,” in a reference to several military sites that were off-limits under the JCPOA under specific circumstances.